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218 POEMS.
To fave her bloflbms, and defend her fruit
From the rafh hand of bold incontinence.
You may as well fpread out the unfunn'd heaps
Of mifers treafure by an outlaw's den,
And tell me it is fafe, as bid me hope
Danger will wink on opportunity,
And let a fingle helplefs maiden pafs
Uninjur'd in this wild furrounding wafte.
Of night, or lonelinefs it recks me not ;
I fear the dread events that dog them both,
Left fome ill-greeting touch attempt the perfon
Of our unowned lifter.
ELDER BROTHER.
I do not, brother,
Infer, as if I thought my fitter's ftate
Secure without all doubt, or controverfy :
Yet where an equal poife of hope and fear
Does arbitrate th' event, my nature is
That I incline to hope, rather than fear,
And gladly banilh fquint fufpicion.
My
lifter is not fo defencelefs left
As you imagine: Ihe' has a hidden ftrength
Which you remember not.
What hidden ftrength,
SECOND BROTHER.
Unlefs the ftrength of Heav'n, if you
ELDER BROTHER.
mean that ?
I mean that too, but yet a hidden ftrength,
Which if Heav'n gave it, may be term'd her own :
'Tis chaftity, my brother, chaftity:
She that has that, is clad in complete fteel,